The Most Expensive Country to Drink a Beer

A new study shows the best countries to get pints for your pennies—and the most expensive countries to dine out.

Given currency exchange rates, not all destinations are created equal—a thousand dollars in London could still have you living more like a pauper than a prince. Luckily, a new study by travel research firm Trippy breaks down where, across the 25 most-visited countries, you can get the "biggest bang for your American buck" in everything from imported beers to mid-range meals for two. Happy spending.

Beer O'Clock

Italy, on average, had the highest cost of exploration: hotels, transportation, meals, and drinks out. But Ukraine is your winner in terms of overall traveling—and drinking—on a budget, where the average price of a domestic brew like Slavutich Mitzne or Chernigivske Pivokombinat will cost you a whopping $0.54 cents—strong travel warnings not included. Sipping a domestic beer in China ($0.84), the Russian Federation ($1.00), and Mexico ($1.10) is similarly cheap. Bring on the Tsingtao, Zhigulevskoye, and Tecate.

On the other end of the spectrum, sticking to the just-one-drink-for-me-thanks approach might help your savings account in certain spots around the world: A domestic beer in Singapore, the world's most expensive city, will cost you an average of $5.91. Swapping a local Tiger Beer for an import like Beck's will be (surprise) even more expensive, with 11.2 ounces running American travelers $6.65. Tap water suddenly tastes much sweeter.

1 USD = 2843.93 COP

A lot of South America is a great deal for dollar-carriers right now, but we recommend a trip to Colombia, in part because of the change in the exchange rate (in July 2014, the dollar was hovering closer to around 1,840 Colombian pesos). The country is also experiencing a renaissance of sorts, in food, art, and technology. Looking to see two cities on the rise? Try capital Bogotá (pictured) and Medellín. But be sure to head to the more remote regions of Colombia, too—once off-limits for security reasons, they're now leading the charge in sustainable eco-tourism. For starters, head to Valle de Cocora, home to the world's largest palm tree forest.

Of all the countries on this list, Argentina offers some of the most savings for dollar-carriers. The Argentine peso experienced a massive devaluation in December 2015, which saw a dollar's value jumping from 9.81 pesos to 13.3 pesos overnight—since then, the exchange rate has only gotten more appealing. Some added benefits for American travelers to the country? In 2016, the Argentine government removed the $160 "reciprocity fee" for U.S. citizens and announced that foreigners would be able to get a refund for the 21 percent value added tax on hotel stays. Buenos Aires (pictured)—the equal parts quaint and bustling capital—should be your starting point. Insanely affordable wine and steak amid an increasingly outward-looking culinary scene; polo tournaments; and a first-hand education in the turbulent history of tango? Count us in.

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1 USD = 7.73 NOK

No matter what currency you're dealing in, Norway is not cheap. In fact, it's one of the most expensive countries— in terms of cost of living—in the world. So, when you're bringing your hard-earned U.S. dollars in, every little bit helps. Considering a Washington got you just around six Norwegian krone four years ago, Norway is relatively more affordable for American travelers than it once was. Still, when every purchase is going to hurt just a little bit, where should you pony up the cash? After seeing everything that Oslo has to offer, we'd recommend getting out of the city and onto a boat to tour the country's magnificent fjords.

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1 USD = 1.69 AZN

It's high time you put Azerbaijan, the oil-rich country at the gateway between Eastern Europe and Central Asia, on your radar—and a favorable exchange rate makes it all the more urgent. The Azerbaijani manat took a major hit when the central bank decided to stop protecting the currency against falling oil prices in December 2015; the dollar and manat were at parity for years until that point. Now, the country is almost half as expensive for dollar carriers, and a recent introduction of electronic visas makes it all the more appealing for those intimidated by the previously labyrinthine application process. (Plus, Americans traveling on the direct JFK-Baku route on Azerbaijan Airlines can get a 30-day visa on arrival for just $20.) The capital sits right on the shores of the Caspian Sea and fully embraces its location, and a wide promenade along the water makes for a pleasant afternoon stroll. The Old City, an immaculately maintained UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fascinating place to spend an afternoon. Because it's still relatively unknown to tourists, get there in the morning, and it can feel like you have the sprawling, fifteenth-century Palace of the Shirvanshahs all to yourself. Don't limit your stay to the capital, though: Make sure to venture away from Baku to experience the country's ancient villages, ski resorts, and famous mud volcanoes.

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1 USD = 13511.50 IDR

Like much of Southeast Asia, Indonesia is a good place to visit, in general, if you don't want to break the bank. But the fact that a dollar gets you 13,511 rupiah, when it used to get you a comparatively paltry 11,400 four years ago, means you can get even better value than usual. There are the obvious places to spend that rupiah—the hill towns of Bali and Yogyakarta, Java's cultural heart—but with an undetermined number of islands, in the tens of thousands, to choose from, the options are virtually limitless. Choose to island-hop on an Old World-style yacht through the archipelago, or set up shop for a week or so in Sulawesi or Raja Ampat, where you'll find some of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world.

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1 USD = 18.52 MXN

Still reeling from a series of devastating earthquakes late last year, Mexico needs your tourist dollars perhaps now more than ever. Take the fact that the a dollar used to get you close to 17.5 pesos six months ago, and now gets you 18.5 as extra incentive. In Mexico City, with a street food culture rivaled only by its forward-looking restaurant scene, you'll be spending most of your money on eats, but make sure to leave some bucks to sample all the cultural wonders the city has to offer, starting with the iconic Museo Jumex. If you're looking to get a little further afield and off the regular tourist track, head to Jalisco to see tequila being made at the source.

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Economical Eats

Eating well is an integral part of traveling, but filling your stomach while flattening your wallet can detract from the gustatory pleasure—unless you're eating a foie gras ice cream bar at the best restaurant in the world, that is. Gourmands, take note: In Italy and the Netherlands, a cheap meal for one ($17.02) is about 11 times more expensive than a meal in Thailand ($1.56), which is a veritable street food paradise.

If you're looking to take your date out to a multi-course meal, head to Malaysia, where you can be cheap without actually being cheap: $12—yes, $12—will cover a three-course meal for two at a mid-range restaurant. Spend a little more ($30) and you're covered in Croatia and South Korea; spend a lot more ($66) and you can have your fill of steak and ale pies in the U.K. Ah, romance.